New evidence on imitation in an enculturated chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

Journal of Comparative Psychology
Lara CarrascoMontserrat Colell

Abstract

Imitation in the great apes continues to be an active field of research and one that is not free of controversy. Several studies suggest that these species do not tend to match the motor movements of the model they observe, but try to achieve the same results using their own methods (emulation of results). In the studies reviewed, gestures have been used very infrequently outside an intraspecific communicative context to evaluate imitation. In fact, the imitation of gestural actions has been tested only in 4 individual great apes. This study assessed a chimpanzee's (Pan troglodytes) ability to imitate 52 actions in 4 categories. The levels of accuracy attained by the subject in her imitations exceeded those described in previous studies. Moreover, contrary to the idea defended in some articles, the subject seemed to find it easier to imitate gestures than actions with objects.

Citations

Aug 10, 2012·Animal Cognition·José Z AbramsonFernando Colmenares
Apr 26, 2014·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Jean-François GariépyMichael L Platt
Jul 12, 2016·Behavioral Sciences·Francys Subiaul
Aug 18, 2017·Primates; Journal of Primatology·Tomas PerssonElainie Alenkær Madsen
Jan 18, 2018·Child Development·David F Bjorklund
Jul 8, 2018·Learning & Behavior·Ludwig HuberGiulia Cimarelli
Jul 4, 2020·Primates; Journal of Primatology·Tetsuro Matsuzawa

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